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Curve Sketching & Asymptotes

The document provides instructions for sketching graphs of functions by: 1) Computing the first and second derivatives to find relative extreme points 2) Finding intercepts, asymptotes, and points of reflection or inflection 3) Considering properties like domains to complete the graph It then works through examples of sketching various functions step-by-step.

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Lucas
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36 views

Curve Sketching & Asymptotes

The document provides instructions for sketching graphs of functions by: 1) Computing the first and second derivatives to find relative extreme points 2) Finding intercepts, asymptotes, and points of reflection or inflection 3) Considering properties like domains to complete the graph It then works through examples of sketching various functions step-by-step.

Uploaded by

Lucas
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CURVE SKETCHING [LEC 1]

Compute f   x  and f   x 

Then find all relative extreme points

a) Set f   x   0 and solve for x . If x  a is a solution substitute x  a into f  x  to find f  a 

Plot the points  a, f  a  

Compute

i) If the curve has a relative minimum at


ii) If the curve has a relative maximum at
iii) If the curve has a point of reflection at

Consider other properties of the function and complete the sketch.

b) If f  x  is defined at x  0 the y – intercept is  0, f  0  


c) If x – intercept are found by setting f  x   0 and solving for x

NB
Solving only in easy cases or when a problem essentially require you to calculate the x –
intercept
d) Observe where f  x  is defined
e) Look for possible asymptotes
There are three types of asymptotes
i) Horizontal/ Parallel to x- axis
ii) Vertical / Parallel to y – axis
iii) One of the forms y  mx  c
How to find the asymptotes

i) Parallel to x- axis
Equate the coefficient of the highest power of to zero then solve for

ii) Parallel to y- axis


Equate the coefficient of the highest power of to zero then solve for

iii) Equation of the form


Substitute y  mx  c in the equation then equate the coefficient of the two highest power of
x to zero. Solve for foe m and c

Example 1
Sketch the graph of

Solution
1 2
Let f  x   x  4 x  7 then
2
f  x  x  4
f   x   1

Since f   x   0 when x  4 and f   x   0 when x  4 then the point  4, f  4   is a relative


minimum. i.e.  4, 1 is a minimum point.

y – Intercept x0 y 7  0, 7 
x – Intercept  y0

1 2
x  4x  7  0
2
x 2  8 x  14  0

8  64  4 114 8  8
x 
2 2
 x1  4  2 or x2  4  2

 4  2, 0  and 4  2, 0 
Asymptote
2 y  x 2  8 x  14
x 2  8 x  14  2 y  0

Equating coefficient of highest power of x to zero  1  0 which is impossible


 There is no asymptote parallel to x – axis
Equating coefficient of highest power of y to zero  2  0 which is impossible
 There is no asymptote parallel to y – axis
x 2  8 x  14  2  mx  c   0
x 2  8 x  14  2mx  2c  0
x 2   8  2m  x  14  2c  0

1  0 This is impossible hence no asymptote.

1 2
7 y x  4x  7
2

x1 x2

Example 2
Sketch the curves
1
y  x 
x

Solution
1
Let f  x    x    x  x 1 then
x
f   x   1  x 2
f   x   2 x 3
At extreme points f   x   0
1
1 0
x2
 x2  1  0  x  1

x 1 f  1  2  Maximum point at 1, 2 


x  1 f   1  2  Minimum point at  1, 2 

y – Intercept x0 impossible  does not cut the axis


x – Intercept y0
1
0  x   x2 1  0  x  1 Impossible so does not cut the x - axis
x

Asymptotes
1 x2  1
y  x  
x x

Power of x in numerator is greater that power of x in denominator  there is no horizontal


asymptote (parallel to x – axis)

x  0 is the vertical asymptote (parallel to y – axis)

1
y  x 
x
 y   x is the slant asymptote.

 1, 2 

1, 2 

Example 3
 
Find all the asymptotes of the curve x 2 x 2  2  y 3  x  1
Solution

Asymptotes
x 4  2 x 2  y 3  x  1  0

Equating coefficient of highest power of x to zero   2  0 which is impossible


 There is no asymptote parallel to x – axis
Equating coefficient of highest power of y to zero x  1  0  x  1 which is an asymptote
parallel to y – axis

Substituting y  mx  c
x 4  2 x 2   mx  c   x  1  0
3


x 4  2 x 2  m3 x 3  3m 2 c x 2  3mc 2 x  c 3   x  1  0
x 4  2 x 2   m3 x 4  3m 2 c x 3  3mc 2 x 2  c 3 x  m3 x 3  m 2c x 2  mc 2 x  c 3   0

1  m  x   3m c  m  x   3mc
3 4 2 3 3 2

 m 2 c  2 x 2  mc 2 x  c 3  0

Equating coefficients of two highest powers of x to zero


1  m3  0 m  1 and
3m 2 c  m3  0
1
3mc  1  0 c
3

1
 y  x or 3 y  3x  1 is an asymptote.
3

Example 4

Find all the asymptotes of the curve x x3  3  y 3 1  x  
Solution
Asymptotes
x 4  3x  y 3 1  x   0

Equating coefficient of highest power of x to zero  1  0 which is impossible


 There is no asymptote parallel to x – axis
Equating coefficient of highest power of y to zero  1  x   0  x  1 which is an
asymptote parallel to y – axis

Substituting y  mx  c
x 4  3 x   mx  c  1  x   0
3

 
x 4  3 x  m3 x3  3m 2 c x 2  3mc 2 x  c 3 1  x   0
x 4  3 x   m3 x 3  3m 2 c x 2  3mc 2 x  c 3  m3 x 4  3m 2c x 3  3mc 2 x 2  c 3 x   0

1  m  x   3m c  m  x   3mc
3 4 2 3 3 2
  
 3m 2 c x 2  mc 2  3 x  c 3  0

Equating coefficients of two highest powers of x to zero


1  m3  0 m  1 and
1
3m 2 c  m3  0  3c  1  0 c
3
1
 y  x  or 3 y  3x  1  0 Is an asymptote.
3

Exercise
1. Sketch the curves
1
a) y 
2 x
4
b) y  x 
x

2. Find all the asymptotes of the curve


 
a) x 3  x3  y 3  2  x 
b) x 2  x  1  y 2  x  2 

c) y
 x  4 x2
x 1

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